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13 candidates sign up as muncipal filing opens

Thomasville City Council candidate Jason Varner listens to instructions from Ruth Huneycutt, director of the Davidson County Board of Elections, as Varner completes the registration process at the Davidson County Board of Elections on Friday. Waiting in line to file election plans are Allen Todd (right), who is running for mayor of Wallburg, and Steve Yokeley (second from right), who is a candidate for the Wallburg Town Council.

Published: Friday, July 5, 2013 at 3:28 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, July 5, 2013 at 5:32 p.m.

A bustle of activity occurred at the Davidson County Board of Elections when four incumbent mayors, five incumbent council members and four challengers showed up Friday afternoon to file for Davidson County municipal elections on the first day of registration.

Thomasville City Council candidate Jason Varner listens to instructions from Ruth Huneycutt, director of the Davidson County Board of Elections, as Varner completes the registration process at the Davidson County Board of Elections on Friday. Waiting in line to file election plans are Allen Todd (right), who is running for mayor of Wallburg, and Steve Yokeley (second from right), who is a candidate for the Wallburg Town Council.

Donnie Roberts/The Dispatch

The mayors of Lexington, Thomasville, Wallburg and Denton all filed for re-election. The Midway mayor’s seat is not on the ballot this year. Three people, two challengers and one incumbent, filed for the seven Thomasville city council seats that are open for election every two years. Lexington City Ward 1 has developed into a head-on-head campaign between incumbent Ronald Reid and challenger the Rev. Dr. Herbert Miller. All the Lexington City Council incumbents who are running have filed; one councilman, Donnie McBride, will not run for re-election.

Lexington

Newell Clark, 42, the principal owner of Standell Properties, filed for his second two-year term as mayor of Lexington. He says he is honored to have served the city for the past two years and is excited to continue the new direction the city has started.

“I am confident in the work the council and I have done,” Clark said. “We have received many positive comments.”

The election in Ward 1 has already heated up between incumbent Reid, 62, and Miller. Reid, who is retired from Mid-State Tile, is serving his first four-year term and says he just loves what he does.

“I want what the people want,” Reid said. “I want to make a difference for them.”

Miller, 46, the pastor of First Baptist Church on Village Drive, ran two years ago for the at-large seat occupied by Jim Myers. He previously stated his goal is to be a part of helping the community and to move Lexington forward.

Tobin Shepherd, 52, who is retired from Guilford County Health Department, filed to represent Ward 2. This is his first bid for public office, and he says is an advocate for the taxpayers.

“Jobs, jobs and more jobs,” Shepherd said. “That is what people want.”

McBride has been the councilman for Ward 2 for 12 years and decided not to run for another term because of personal and health reasons.

“I’ve given many years to the city and have enjoyed getting to know what Lexington was all about. I just have family issues that require more of my time,” he said.

Wayne Alley, 70, a Realtor, has been the incumbent council member for Ward 4 for eight years and is seeking his third term. He says his focus is business and community development.

“I want to continue on with bringing commercial and retail businesses into the area to create more jobs,” he said. “I believe the development of the Depot District will help in both of those areas and make Lexington a transportation hub.”

Incumbent Linwood Bunce filed for councilman for Ward 3 but was unable to be reached for comment.

Thomasville

Two newcomers and one incumbent filed to be on the ballot for Thomasville City Council, and Mayor Joe Bennett filed for his sixth term.

Jason Varner, 27, was the first person to file for election at the Davidson County Board of Elections when filing opened at noon. This is his second attempt for Thomasville City Council. Varner, who is a marketing officer for an insurance company, says he wants to bring new eyes to the council.

“We need young, fresh ideas to make a reflection of the people who live in Thomasville,” he said.

Joe Leonard, 76, who is a retired business owner, filed for his first time as a candidate for Thomasville City Council. He said he was motivated to become involved in his community.

“I have been encouraged by many people to run and thought it was about time I did something about it. I’m all about jobs, jobs, jobs,” he said.

Incumbent Raleigh York, 64, who a retired firefighter, has served on the Thomasville City Council for eight years and says he wants to continue with the good work they have been doing and wants to encourage economic growth.

“I want to open up new areas to make it good for businesses to come to our town,” he said.

Bennett, 77, has been mayor of Thomasville for 10 years and served on the city council for four years. He says he wishes to carry on the momentum that recently brought the designation of All-America City.

“We want to bring in more jobs and bring businesses into the vacant buildings we have,” said Bennett, who is retired from Duke Energy. “But we also want to revitalize our area and make it an attractive place to live.”

Thomasville uses an at-large structure that means all seats are up for election every two years.

Wallburg

Allen Todd, 60, filed for his third term as mayor of Wallburg. Todd was elected as mayor for the first time in 2005, shortly after Wallburg incorporated in 2004. He said that his focus is to maintain low tax rates, help maintain a faith-based community and to help businesses thrive.

“I want to keep conservatism in our area and to keep our county the same as it has been,” Todd said.

Steve Yokeley, 55, has served two previous terms, also filed for Wallburg town council. He is for small government and staying out of people’s lives.

“I want Wallburg to maintain the same small-town identity,” he said.

Denton

Denton Mayor Scott Morris filed for re-election Friday but was not available for comment. Terms for all Denton elected officials are four years. There have been no filings for the town commissioner positions held by Wayne Plaster and Deanna Chandler Grubb.

Midway

No one filed for the three town council seats that are up for election in Midway.

The filing period for all municipalities continues through noon July 19. All candidates must be 21 years old and reside in the city, town or ward for which they hope to serve. Municipal Election Day is scheduled for Nov. 5.

Sharon Myers can be reached at 249-3981, ext, 228 or at sharon.myers@the-dispatch.com.

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